Microsoft president asks why milk is regulated but AI is not

The artificial intelligence industry is growing faster than ever, but it currently operates with fewer safety checks than everyday household items. Microsoft President Brad Smith has said that simple products like milk and washing machines face stricter regulations than powerful AI systems.The need for rulesSpeaking on the BBC's Big Boss Interview, Smith called AI both a "tool and a weapon" that urgently requires oversight. "Right now, your washing machine is subject to more safety rules than AI. Every carton of milk that you see in the grocery store is subject to safety rules and inspection," Smith said. "Let's get started today."He explained that governments already have a blueprint for product safety and should simply adapt that knowledge to software: "We know how to do this for other products. We should build on that knowledge and think about how to apply it to AI."To keep AI safe, Smith suggested introducing emergency brakes, often called kill switches in the tech industry, that can slow down or pause an AI system if it goes out of control. He also pushed for a legal requirement that forces tech companies to file incident reports and notify victims if a system is breached by a rogue AI agent. Why self-regulation is not enoughSmith's push for strict rules puts him in a different camp than US President Donald Trump. Trump has advocated for the tech sector to regulate itself so that American companies do not lose the AI race to Chinese rivals, repeatedly stating that “whoever wins AI, wins.” Recently, Trump hosted leaders from top US tech giants like OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and Meta at the White House, where the executives signed a morally binding document to audit their systems.While Smith said Microsoft is happy to sign the pledge and called it a good step, he stressed that voluntary self-regulation is no longer enough. He explained that while good companies will naturally do what is required, it is the irresponsible companies that the world actually needs to worry about. When it comes to writing these global rules, the Microsoft executive believes the United Kingdom is the best country for the job. He praised the UK's technical expertise, largely driven by its AI Security Institute which launched under former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government, noting that most tech experts consider the country the clear global leader in understanding AI capabilities.He added that Washington would likely accept safety standards established in London more readily than directives coming from Brussels: "In Washington DC, people don't look at the UK and they don't look at London the way they look at Brussels – that's a strength."Warning that untested AI systems could threaten global digital infrastructure, Smith stressed that the time for action is right now."When you look at AI agents that have escaped human control, when you look at models that are so powerful that they're putting the world's cybersecurity at risk, I would say: The moment has arrived," Smith said. "Let's speak calmly, maybe even softly, but firmly, and start to bring people together. I hope that's the role we can play as a company. I hope that's the role the UK can play as a country."Ultimately, the Microsoft executive believes that the world can safely enjoy the incredible benefits of artificial intelligence only if countries work together to keep its biggest risks permanently under control.- Ends